Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources José Iglesias reached base three times on Thursday. In Thursday's game against the A's, Iglesias went 2-for-4 with a walk. Playing at second base and batting sixth, the experienced infielder continued his strong offensive performance, which has earned him regular playing time. Despite Jeff McNeil improving his hitting, Iglesias has been in the starting lineup for eight out of 13 games in August, hitting .313 (10-for-32) with two doubles, three RBIs, and four runs scored. With Starling Marte potentially returning from the Injured List this weekend, Iglesias may see reduced playing time and share the second base position with McNeil. Jorge Soler has been diagnosed with a hamstring strain Following the 6-0 loss to the Giants on Thursday, Atlanta manager Brian Snitker announced that Soler has a mild left hamstring strain, as reported by Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Soler left Wednesday's 13-2 win early due to the hamstring injury and missed the series finale while waiting for the MRI results. Snitker described Soler as day-to-day post MRI, giving hope to Atlanta that the 32-year-old outfielder may not need to be placed on the injured list. As per Mark Bowman of MLB.com, Soler mentioned he will skip Friday's game against the Angels but expressed feeling better after a day of rest, hinting at a possible return to the lineup later in the weekend. Andy Pagés with a hit on Thursday. After missing Wednesday's game, Andy Pagés returned to the Dodgers lineup on Thursday. He managed to get one hit out of four at-bats in a 6-4 loss against the Brewers. His sole hit was his 22nd double of the season, leading to his 36th RBI. In his recent seven games, Pagés has been performing well with a batting line of .364/.462/.727, including a home run and 4 RBIs. Adolis García recorded his second consecutive three-hit game. During Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Twins, Adolis García went 3-for-4 with an RBI. In the fourth inning, he executed a solid throw to successfully turn a double play at first base. He hit two home runs and collected three hits in five plate appearances on Wednesday. In his last two games, he is 6-for-9 with three RBIs. Adolis has been on fire lately, going 14-for-28 with three walks, two home runs, six RBIs, and five runs in his last seven games, maintaining a slash line of .500/.563/.750 during that span. While he struggled at the plate in July with a .504 OPS, he has been hitting .378 through 51 plate appearances in August. Lázaro Montes is having a successful August. The young Mariners outfield prospect, Lázaro Montes, has been performing exceptionally well at High-A in August. Since the beginning of the month, the 19-year-old has maintained an impressive .400/.455/.600 slash line with two home runs, seven RBI, and one stolen base. During this period, Montes has recorded six multi-hit games. While his overall performance in his first 35 games at High-A Everett has been decent with a .245/.338/.345 line, his recent outstanding performance could indicate a positive turning point for the talented player. Earlier in the summer at Single-A Modesto, Montes boasted a .309/.411/.527 line with 13 home runs in 65 games. Montes has been steadily climbing the prospect rankings throughout the summer and currently holds the 48th position in the sport and is ranked as the third-best prospect in Seattle according to MLB.com.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Adolis García had been struggling at the plate lately, but he broke out in a big way on Wednesday night at Fenway Park. Adolis García went 3-for-5 with two solo home runs, helping the Rangers secure a 9-7 comeback victory over the Red Sox in a 10-inning game. This marked his first multi-homer game of the season. Since the All-Star break last month, García had only hit one home run in 23 games. However, in the past 16 games starting from July 27, the 31-year-old right fielder has been on fire, batting .283 with two home runs, seven RBI, and eight runs scored. He now has a total of 20 home runs this season and has been recently moved to the cleanup spot in the lineup by manager Bruce Bochy. With his recent performance, it wouldn't be surprising if García goes on a hot streak to finish off the year. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. records multiple hits on Wednesday. During Wednesday's game against the Rockies, D-backs outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. achieved a multi hit performance. The 30-year-old player batted 2-for-4, scoring two runs and striking out in an 11-4 victory. Gurriel boasts an decent .268 batting average with 14 home runs and 59 RBIs so far this season. He is just 25 RBIs shy of surpassing his own record of 84, which he set in 2021 while playing for Toronto. Jorge Soler of the Braves will be sidelined on Thursday. According to Manager Brian Snitker, Soler, who is dealing with a hamstring injury, will not participate in Thursday's game against the Giants, as reported by Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The injury occurred while he was running to first base during Wednesday's game, but the team is not overly concerned. However, Atlanta will err on the side of caution and rest him for a game. Soler, known for his powerful hitting, is set to undergo an MRI on Thursday to assess the extent of the injury and determine if he will need more time off. Prior to leaving the game, he recorded no hits in two at-bats and scored a run in a dominant victory for the Braves, with a final score of 13-2. Orioles relief pitchers Yennier Cano and Cionel Pérez delivered a scoreless performance in Wednesday's win. Yennier Cano secured his 27th hold of the year with one flawless inning, while Cionel Pérez notched his 17th hold by pitching a clean frame and recording a strikeout. These two pitchers play crucial roles in the Orioles bullpen and are expected to be key contributors in the team's performance during the 2024 postseason. Randy Arozarena went hitless on Wednesday. Randy Arozarena went 0-for-4 while batting third in the lineup during a 3-2 loss to the Tigers on Wednesday. Despite walking once, he also struck out twice. Arozarena was acquired by Seattle to boost their offense after falling from the top spot in the American League West. Even though he has been performing well since joining the Mariners on Jul 27, hitting .286 with a home run, 5 RBIs, 14 runs, and 12 walks, the team has struggled, going 5-5 in their last 10 games and trailing the resurgent Astros by 2 1/2 games. Luis Robert and Miguel Vargas teamed up to produce two hits on Wednesday. In a 10-2 defeat against the Yankees on Wednesday, Luis Robert and Miguel Vargas collectively recorded two hits. Luis Robert Jr. and Miguel Vargas went 2-for-8 during the game, with Robert striking out once and Vargas striking out twice. Both players are experiencing a challenging season, as Luis Robert has a batting line of .131/.159/.164 with no home runs, 3 RBIs, and 27 strikeouts in his last 15 games. Meanwhile, Vargas is batting .116/.240/.209 with one home run, 2 RBIs, 7 walks, and 16 strikeouts during that same period. Andy Pagés was not in the Dodgers' lineup on Wednesday. Kevin Kiermaier took over in center field, while Pagés remained on the bench, indicating a possible trend for the remainder of the season. For Pagés, the solution is straightforward: he must enhance his Chase (31.0), Whiff (27.0), Squared-Up (20.6), K (25.3), and BB (6.7) percentages, all of which are currently below par. In his debut MLB season, Pagés holds a batting line of .248/.307/.390 with 9 home runs and 35 RBIs. Yuli Gurriel had an outstanding 4-for-4 outing, including a double, during his time with Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday. During the current season, the 40-year-old Gurriel has been diligently working in Triple-A, holding a solid batting average of .298/.375/.493 with 11 homers and 10 stolen bases for Gwinnett. Given his remarkable display, the Braves may contemplate retaining him as a pinch-hitting option in September, particularly due to their underutilized bench.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources On Tuesday against the Giants, Raisel Iglesias once more delivered a flawless performance in the 10th inning to safeguard a slim one-run advantage. On Tuesday, Iglesias pitched the 10th inning without allowing any runs, securing a 4-3 lead. He efficiently retired the first two batters with just two pitches and then induced Heliot Ramos to fly out, ending the game. With this performance, Iglesias earned his 25th save, placing him in a tie for sixth place in all of baseball. He is poised to achieve his second consecutive season with 30 or more saves. The 34-year-old is also on course to achieve the lowest ERA and WHIP of his 10-year career. Currently, he boasts a 1.54 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, and an impressive 45:8 K: BB ratio in 46.2 innings pitched, demonstrating that he is not just the top Cuban closer in the Majors, but also among the elite players in the game at present. Luis Robert had one hit and an RBI in Tuesday's game against the Yankees, going 1-for-4. Even though the White Sox only had five hits in the game, it was Robert's hit that led to a run, as is frequently the scenario. His single in the eighth inning brought Corey Julks home, avoiding a shutout and enabling veteran reliever Jake Cousins to earn his first career save. Jorge Soler slugs a double in win. Jorge Soler went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Tuesday's 4-3 victory against the Giants. The double it was Soler's first hit against his former team, it gave his team a 2-0 lead in the second inning. He's now slashing .245/.339/.440 with 16 homers, 51 RBI, 64 runs scored, 25 doubles and a stolen base over 105 contests this season. He will aim to maintain his good batting form in the remaining two games of the series in San Francisco. Néstor Cortés dominated the White Sox effortlessly. Improving his performance, Néstor Cortés (6-10) pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing only three hits while striking out nine batters without issuing a single walk. This victory against the White Sox marked a significant turnaround for Cortés, who had struggled in his previous five starts. His impressive nine strikeouts equaled his season best, and it was the first time since June 23 that he managed to avoid walking a batter. With a 4.20 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 133:29 K:BB ratio in 141.1 innings over 25 starts this season, Cortés will aim to carry this momentum into his upcoming game, likely scheduled to be played at home against the Guardians. Andy Pagés hits a home run in a victory. In Tuesday's 7-2 win against the Brewers, Andy Pagés went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer. He has been performing well lately, going 8-for-22 (.364) in his last seven games, but this was his first home run since June 18. While Pagés is still getting playing time on a somewhat regular basis, it might become more challenging now that Mookie Betts has returned and is expected to take over the right field position full-time. If Pagés continues to hit well, he might avoid being part of a strict platoon with Kevin Kiermaier, who bats left-handed and plays in center field. However, Kiermaier's exceptional defense could also keep him in the lineup in various situations. So far this season, Pagés has a .248/.307/.390 slash line with nine home runs, 35 RBIs, 54 runs scored, and one stolen base in 387 plate appearances. Miguel Vargas back in the lineup. Miguel Vargas returned to the starting lineup on Tuesday following a day of rest on Monday. In a 4-1 loss to the Yankees, he batted 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. Vargas showcased his defensive skills at third base by making a slick play to retire Gleyber Torres in the sixth inning, drawing comparisons to his father, the renowned Lázaro Vargas, who had a successful career in the Cuban National Series and national team. Vargas' consistent presence at third base is not a coincidence. White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore stated to the press last Saturday that the team aims to give the 24-year-old infielder regular playing time at third base in the upcoming games for stability and development. Vargas is hitting just .191/.286/.345 with four homers, 11 RBI and one stolen base in 126 plate appearances on the season. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. returned to the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rockies. As anticipated, he was back as the designated hitter and batting third for Tuesday's matchup after sitting out one game due to tightness in his left hamstring. Fortunately, Arizona identified the issue early, preventing it from escalating into a more serious concern. The positive news is that the 30-year-old was back in the starting lineup after missing just one game. In Arizona's 4-3 win on Tuesday, he went 0-for-4 with an RBI and a strikeout. Gurriel has had a slow start in August, going 7-for-31 with a double and four walks in nine games. Nationals call up Orlando Ribalta. According to the Washington Post, the Washington Nationals have brought up right-handed pitching prospect Orlando Ribalta from Triple-A Rochester. MLB Pipeline ranks Ribalta as the team's 28th prospect. The 26-year-old pitcher from Cuba started the season at Double-A Harrisburg before moving up to Rochester. In the 2024 season, he has achieved a 5-1 record with a 2.58 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, five saves, 67 strikeouts, and 22 walks in 45 1/3 relief innings across two minor league levels. Standing at 6-foot-7 and weighing 245 pounds, Ribalta is set to make his MLB debut when enter a game, although he is likely to be used in lower-pressure situations. Ribalta's pitching arsenal includes a high-90s four-seam fastball, a sinker, a slider, and a changeup. While Ribalta may give up hits, his strong pitching attributes position him as an interesting bullpen option for the future.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Raisel Iglesias secures victory against Giants. Raisel Iglesias (2-1) earned the win against the Giants on Monday by striking out four batters in two flawless innings during a 1-0 triumph. Chris Sale and Blake Snell displayed exceptional pitching, combining for 23 strikeouts and allowing only five hits and no runs. The game remained scoreless until the 10th inning when Atlanta scored a run on a sacrifice fly by Travis d'Arnaud. Iglesias, who entered the game in the ninth, continued on the mound in the 10th inning to secure the win. The experienced closer has not conceded an earned run since June 16, boasting a remarkable 0.32 WHIP and an impressive 25:2 K:BB ratio over his last 19 innings. He has claimed both of his wins this season and successfully converted all six of his save opportunities. Yordan Alvarez had a 2-for-5 performance with an RBI on Monday in a victory against the Rays. Yordan Alvarez has been on fire at the plate, recording seven multi-hit games in 10 appearances since the beginning of August. The 27-year-old standout is hitting .357 (20-for-56) with five home runs and 10 RBIs in his last 15 games. Adolis García was back in the lineup for the Rangers on Monday, starting in right field and hitting cleanup. It marked the first time since July 6 that Adolis García batted fourth. During this period, Wyatt Langford, Nathaniel Lowe, and Josh Jung have all had their stints in the clean-up position. Adolis had a strong start to August, going 10-for-28 (.357) in the first eight games. This performance might have prompted the Rangers to test his consistency by placing him in the heart of the lineup. In Monday's game, he went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts as the Rangers fell to Boston 5-4 in extra innings. Lourdes Gurriel did not play on Monday. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who was dealing with a hamstring injury, was absent from the lineup for Monday's game against the Rockies. Following his departure from Sunday's 12-5 victory over the Phillies due to tightness in his left hamstring, Gurriel will be missing at least one game. Jake McCarthy took his place in left field as Gurriel is being considered day-to-day by the Diamondbacks. Luis Robert Jr. sitting out of the starting lineup. Luis Robert Jr. was absent from the starting lineup in Monday's game against the Yankees. Robert took a break for the series opener after appearing in each of the White Sox's initial eight games of August, during which he went 2-for-35 with 15 strikeouts. Dominic Fletcher replaced Robert in center field. Miguel Vargas was given Monday off. Vargas did not play in Monday's game against the Yankees, marking the first instance of him being on the bench since his transfer from the Dodgers to the White Sox on July 29. In the White Sox's recent 10 games, Vargas had six starts at third base, three as a designated hitter, and one in left field. However, his performance was underwhelming, as he only achieved a 3-for-36 record with a home run and a 6:13 BB:K ratio. Edgar Quero continues to excel in AAA. Chicago White Sox catching prospect Edgar Quero has been standing out as one of the top hitters in the minor leagues since the beginning of August. In his first eight games, the young catcher has maintained an impressive batting line of .419/.472/.677 with two home runs, seven RBI, and a 4:5 BB:K ratio. He has only failed to get a hit once and has recorded at least three hits in three games. Overall, the 21-year-old has appeared very comfortable since his promotion to Triple-A Charlotte, boasting a solid .329/.426/.532 line over 22 games. Quero is currently ranked as the third-best prospect in the White Sox organization and the 70th-best in all of baseball according to MLB.com.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Despite Jorge Soler's impressive power performance, the Braves fell short in a loss. In Sunday's 9-8 defeat against Colorado, Soler managed to hit two home runs and drive in four runs while going 2-for-4 at the plate. Although Soler contributed significantly to Atlanta's 8-2 lead with a three-run homer in the seventh inning and a solo shot in the eighth, the team's bullpen failed to protect the advantage. Soler excelled at the plate during the series in Colorado, finishing with a total of seven hits, including four home runs and nine RBI in three games. This season, he has accumulated 16 home runs, 50 RBI, 64 runs scored, 24 doubles, and a stolen base, maintaining a slash line of .246/.336/.442 over 103 games. As Atlanta heads to San Francisco for a four-game series starting Monday, Soler will aim to continue his impressive performance, especially against his former team. Yordan Alvarez hits a home run in victory. Yordan Alvarez had a perfect performance at the plate in Sunday's 8-4 victory over the Red Sox, going 2-for-2 with a solo home run, a walk, and an additional run. This marked his fifth consecutive game with a home run. Throughout August, Alvarez has recorded hits in eight out of nine games, achieving multiple hits in six games, along with eight RBIs and eight runs. In the current season, the 27-year-old has a batting average of .307 with 25 home runs, 63 RBIs, and 68 runs scored in 483 plate appearances. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Suffers Hamstring Injury. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had to leave Sunday's 12-5 victory against the Phillies in the fourth inning due to tightness in his left hamstring, according to Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com. Gurriel started the game with a single in the third inning and scored a run on a double by Eugenio Suárez. Gurriel left the game when Arizona took the field in the top of the fourth inning, and manager Torey Lovullo later confirmed that Gurriel's condition is being monitored on a day-to-day basis due to the hamstring problem. The 30-year-old ended the day with a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate and two runs scored. Yandy Díaz had a subdued performance at the plate. Yandy Díaz went 1-for-4 with a strikeout while batting third in the lineup during the Rays' 2-1 win against the Orioles on Sunday. Although his impact in this particular game was minimal, Díaz's season overall has been quite steady, maintaining a .271 batting average with a good balance of power and reliability. However, Díaz has struggled with his on-base percentage and total bases this season. Additionally, his low stolen base count and moderate RBI numbers have been limiting factors for the American League's 2023 batting champion this year. Andy Pagés returned to the Dodgers' lineup on Sunday. After sitting out for rest purposes on Saturday night, Pagés made his comeback to the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. He played in right field and batted eighth. During the game, he achieved a 2-for-3 performance with a run scored and two walks. Throughout the season, he maintains a .248 batting average with an OPS of .691, along with 8 home runs and 33 RBIs. Adolis García records another multi-hit performance against the Yankees on Sunday. Adolis García managed to collect two hits in four at-bats, scoring a run and driving in a run in the Rangers' 8-7 defeat to the Yankees on Sunday. Following his impressive three-hit outing on Saturday, García continued his success with two more hits on Sunday, pushing his batting average to .220. Despite his underwhelming season average, García's back-to-back multi-hit games provide a ray of hope for the defending World Series champions. While his consistent power production, featuring 18 home runs and 56 RBIs, is reassuring, his elevated strikeout rate and low BABIP indicate ongoing unpredictability. Randy Arozarena contributed two RBIs on Sunday. In Sunday's 12-1 victory over the Mets, Randy Arozarena recorded a 1-for-3 performance with two RBIs, a walk, and a run. Arozarena's current stats include a .286 batting average and a .589 slugging percentage, along with 4 home runs and 8 RBIs in 56 at-bats over the last 30 games with Seattle. Pedro León was included in Sunday's lineup. Pedro León started in right field for Houston on Sunday, batting ninth against the Red Sox. He went 1-for-4 in the game, scoring a run and striking out twice. Since his promotion from Triple-A, he has a batting average of .154 (2-for-13) with no home runs or RBIs. Yoán Moncada is currently running but is not yet prepared to make his return due to an adductor issue. It has been reported that Yoán Moncada is experiencing discomfort in his adductor while running. After being taken off his rehab assignment at the end of July, Moncada has not resumed playing in games. This setback is delaying the return of the Cuban infielder, with no specific timeline established. Yariel Rodríguez had a strong performance but fell short in a 1-0 defeat on Saturday. In Saturday's 1-0 loss to the Athletics, Yariel Rodríguez gave up one earned run in 5 2/3 innings, recording five strikeouts. Despite putting in a solid start, Yariel ended up with the loss as the Blue Jays' offense failed to provide run support. With a season ERA of 3.60 and a WHIP of 1.30, he has shown his ability to effectively handle baserunners despite a slightly higher hit rate. Saturday's display of a strong strikeout rate and minimal walks should be the blueprint for the Cuban right-hander to establish himself as a dependable starter in the Major Leagues.

This Sunday, at the Rod Carew Stadium in Panama City, the Cuban U18 national team lost 3-2 to Puerto Rico in the battle for third place in the Pan American tournament. The event serves as a qualifier for the 2025 World Cup, with the United States, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Cuba having already secured their spots last Friday. Box score Puerto Rico secured two runs in the second inning and a crucial one in the fourth, holding off a Cuban comeback in the last two innings to claim the bronze medal in the tournament. Puerto Rico extended their lead to 3-0 against Cuban left-handed pitcher Cesar de Jesus Morales (2-1) in the fourth inning without recording a hit. The decisive run was scored through a combination of a single, two errors, and another hit, capitalizing once again on Cuba's defensive lapses. The inning began with Jatniel McCloud drawing a walk and advancing to third base following a throwing error by Cuban third baseman Leo Sevilla on a ground ball hit by Xavier Rivera. Despite Cuba replacing Morales with reliever Jose E. Santos, the pitching change could not prevent Misael Maldonado from hitting a sacrifice fly to center field, resulting in a 3-0 lead for Puerto Rico. Kaniel Rosado (2-0), a left-hander, dominated the Cuban team in the first four innings, conceding only one hit to Jonathan Moreno in the initial inning, despite allowing five walks and recording five strikeouts. In the first inning, Cuba missed a significant opportunity as Moreno's single and two walks loaded the bases, but Rosado managed to retire Sevilla on a fly ball to right for the third out. In the third inning, Brian Garzón walked to start the inning, but both Moreno and Alexei Febles fell victim to the Puerto Rican pitcher, with Febles ending the inning by inducing a double play. Cuba had its final chance against Rosado in the fourth inning, with two runners on base due to walks and one out already, but pinch hitter José Gómez, replacing Yordan Manduley Jr., struck out, followed by Yasel Mesa grounding out to end the inning. After four innings, Rosado was substituted, and reliever Luis D. Mercado took the mound in the fifth. However, Mercado's time was short-lived, with two walks and an error leading to the bases being loaded with two outs in the inning. Despite this, the Cuban team's offense faltered once more, as Darian Rojas was retired on a fly ball caught by the second baseman, Joniel A. Cuadrado, ending the inning. Up to that point in the game, Puerto Rico had maintained a 3-0 lead over Cuba. However, the Cuban team struggled, leaving eight runners on base and going 0-for-6 with three strikeouts with runners in scoring position. In the sixth inning, Cuba managed to score a run. Sevilla led off the inning with the team's second hit, a ground ball to the third base. But then a third baseman's error on the throw to first base allowed Sevilla to advance to third. Shortly after, Sevilla scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by José Gómez. Despite putting two more runners on base with walks in the inning, Cuba's opportunity to score more runs was abruptly ended when Moreno hit a fly ball to left field for the third out. In the seventh inning, right-hander Yandiel Reyes (1) came to close the game, and after one out, he was backed by his center fielder, who took away a hit from Raidel Sánchez, in a great fielding catch that avoided further complications for Puerto Rico. Despite this, Cuba put together a comeback, with consecutive hits from Rojas, Sevilla and Gómez, bringing Cuba closer to 3-2. But Reyes put an end to the revolt, when a desperate Yasel Mesa swung at the first pitch, flying to right field for the third out of the game. In summary, Cuba's performance in the game was not ideal. The team made four defensive errors that played a significant role in Puerto Rico scoring the three runs. Additionally, Cuba failed to take advantage of the nine walks given by Puerto Rican pitchers, resulting in 12 runners left on base. However, the pitching was remarkable, as they managed to keep their excellent tournament performance by not allowing any earned runs in the game.Of special mention was José E. Santos' exceptional relief performance, as he conceded just one hit in three innings along with two walks, giving Cuba an opportunity to stage a comeback in the game. After their defeat, many believed that the Cubans could have achieved a higher placement than fourth based on their performance in the tournament. However, even before the tournament there were doubts about Cuba's chances of participating in another world competition of this caliber, considering the recent history of the Cuba's U18 teams. Nevertheless, the team, led by their manager Michael González, proved these doubts wrong. Having not made it to an U18 World Cup since 2017 and with no podium finishes since 2006, the boys have unquestionably delivered on their potential. We must now anticipate what 2025 holds for them as they make a deserved comeback to the global stage. Team USA emerged victorious in the battle for the top spot, defeating Panama 4-2. Individual Awards Following the conclusion of the Pan-American event, the All-Star or Americas Team was revealed, along with the presentation of individual player awards, with four going to the Cubans. The designated hitter Raidel Sánchez, included in the All-Star or Team America roster, and the right-handed pitcher Cristian Rego, who had the best ERA of the tournament at 0.00 (7.0 IP-0 ERA), were among the standout players. César Morales led with the best W/L record (2-0), while Yordan Manduley, the Cuban second baseman, excelled as the top defensive player. The American Kayson Cunningham clinched the title of Most Valuable Player, due to his outstanding offensive display, he holds the third position in batting average at .450 (20-9), ranks second in RBIs with 11, doubles with 3, and hits with 9.

On Saturday night, the Cuban U18 national team will compete in the semifinal match of the Pan American tournament against Panama at 8:00 p.m. (Cuban and Eastern United States time) at the Rod Carew National Stadium in Panama City. Nevertheless, Panama's win against Nicaragua in the quarterfinals of the tournament less than a day earlier secured the qualification of the United States, Puerto Rico, and Cuba for the 2025 World Cup, as Panama, being the tournament host, automatically qualifies. Dereck Gomez, a right-handed pitcher, played a key role in Panama's 4-0 win against Nicaragua, recording ten strikeouts in a complete game. Puerto Rico secured a 4-2 victory over Canada at the Juan Demóstenes Arosemena stadium with the help of starting pitcher Angel Cruz, who pitched seven innings, gave up six hits, one earned run, and struck out six batters. On Friday, Cuba achieved a similar feat thanks to the exceptional performance of right-hander Ediel Ponce, who kept Venezuela hitless for 6 1/3 innings before leading the Antilleans to a 6-1 victory by completing the entire game. The United States, the other team that secured a spot in the World Cup, had to put in a tremendous effort to earn their place in the tournament, narrowly defeating Mexico 1-0. The American team was led by pitcher Aidan Stillman, who delivered an outstanding performance by pitching six scoreless innings, conceding only one hit, and striking out four batters. The semifinals are scheduled to take place this Saturday at Rod Carew Stadium. The United States will compete against Puerto Rico at 10:30 a.m. (Cuba and Eastern US time), followed by Panama playing as the visiting team against Cuba at 7 p.m. (local time, 8:00 p.m. in Cuba) in a bid to secure a spot in the final. Left-hander Cristian Rojas, who defeated the Dominican Republic in the qualifying stage, has been confirmed to start for Cuba.

The Cuban U18 national team, having secured a spot in the World Cup, suffered a 3-1 defeat against the host nation at the Rod Carew Stadium in Panama City. This defeat occurred in the semifinals of the Pan American tournament, which started in the city on August 2 and will end today, Sunday. Box score The crucial match went to extra innings, and was ultimately decided by a hit from Franklin Hernández, the cleanup hitter for Panama. A Tie-Break was required after both teams were tied at one run each following seven innings. Franklin's single with the bases loaded drove in two runners, sealing the final 3-1 score. Cristian Rego (1-1), who had been flawless in the tournament as a reliever for the island team, had a contentious performance, pitching 6 1/3 innings in relief of left-handed starter Cristian Rojas. Rego ended up with the loss after giving up five hits, with three strikeouts and one walk. Rojas started the game for Cuba and after a first inning where he faced the minimum of hitters despite a walk, things got very complicated in the second inning. Rojas loaded the bases with a walk and two hits, while a sacrifice fly by the seventh hitter and shortstop, Michael Nieto, produced the first run of the game. Rojas remained in the game, but after the second out, another walk to the ninth in the order led to his substitution. To be honest, reliever Rego was at his best - as he had been throughout the tournament and despite his 16 years of age - and only the decision playing the Tie-Break and the continued lack of offense by the Cuban team, put him on the losing side. In the third inning, Rego gave up a double to Abel Valdéz with one out, but then proceeded to retire eight batters in a row until Valdéz singled starting the sixth inning. The most challenging moment came in the seventh inning, when Panama had two outs and Victor Jiménez and Luis E. Rivera hit back-to-back singles, but Rego managed to escape the inning by inducing Joey Wood to ground out to him. During the second inning, the Cuban team managed to equalize the game against Panamanian pitcher Dylan He. Leo Sevilla got on base due to an error by the second baseman, stole second, and then moved to third base on Yordan Manduley's ground ball. He eventually scored when Cuban catcher Yaidier Díaz, the team's eighth hitter, executed a perfect squeeze play. An additional defensive error by Panama allowed Osniel Castillo to reach base. Subsequently, the Panamanian team opted to replace their starting pitcher with right-hander Anthony Ortega (2-0), a move that appeared to be the best strategic decision of the game. From that moment on, Ortega dominated Cuba's offense, managing to retire eleven batters in a row until the sixth inning, when Raidel Sánchez broke the streak with a single to center field. Despite this, the single had not impact in the inning, as Ortega went on to strike out Darián Rojas, a top performer in RBIs for Cuba, and Sánchez was caught trying to steal second base for the third out. After the seven regulated innings, the game reached the Tie-Break decision. In Cuba's final offensive opportunity, trailing 3-1, Castillo's unsuccessful sacrifice attempt with runners on second and first resulted in the first out. Ortega then struck out Jonathan Moreno for the second out, and finished his outstanding display by retiring Alexei Febles on a ground ball to third base. Ortega delivered an outstanding performance throwing 6 1/3 scoreless innings, with 71 pitches, 47 of them for strikes. He allowed just one hit, issued no walks, and struck out three batters. This solid display continued his impressive run in the tournament, as he has now pitched 14 2/3 innings with only one earned run, 9 strikeouts, and no walks. With this performance, the Panamanian right-hander improved his record to 2-0 in the Pan American tournament. Certainly, Cuba once again showcased its offensive deficiencies in this match, which have been a recurring aspect of the team's showing in the competition. A big issue has been the team's inability to capitalize on opportunities with runners on base. A case in point is their offensive line of .192/.368/.234 in the tournament, with both the batting average and slugging percentage ranking as the lowest among all the teams that advanced to the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, Cuba's pitching has excelled in the tournament, conceding just 6 earned runs in 55 innings (0.76 ERA). Prior to this match, Cuban pitchers led in wins and saves, while also boasting one of the lowest walk rates per innings pitched. Additionally, they shared with Team USA the fewest extra-base hits allowed. Having secured their spot in the world championship, Cuba will play on Sunday against Puerto Rico for the third-place, following Puerto Rico's 6-3 defeat to Team USA in the other semifinal match.

Cuban pitching continued to shine this Friday, as the Caribbean team defeated Venezuela 6-1 at Juan Demóstenes Arosemena Stadium. Box score This victory secured their spot in the Panamerican U18 semifinals, where they will face either Nicaragua or Panama. The Cuban team now stands at 6-0 in this World Championship 2025 qualifier, needing just one more win to secure their place. Remarkably, the pitcher from Ciego de Ávila, Ediel Ponce, delivered an outstanding performance by holding the Venezuelans hitless for 6 1/3 innings. Nevertheless, the no-hitter was disrupted in the seventh inning, which was promptly followed by a single that also marked the end of the shutout. Despite these setbacks, Ponce managed to strike out the last batter, ultimately concluding the pivotal game for Cuba. Altogether, Ponce threw a total of 102 pitches, just three shy of the tournament limit of 105. During this time, he gave up two hits, two walks, hit two batters, allowed one earned run, and achieved four strikeouts. This performance was instrumental in securing a vital victory for the Caribbean team in the knockout stage. Ponce put on an impressive pitching display, and the offense quickly responded against left-handed Venezuelan starter Axcel Rivero. In the second inning, a significant four-run rally set a positive tone for the Cuban team. Continuing his strong performance, Brian Garzón, a key hitter for Cuba, drew a walk with the bases loaded and two outs, scoring the first run. Shortly after, Osniel Castillo's single to right field brought in two more runs, aided by an error from the Venezuelan right fielder that allowed Garzón to score. With this sequence, Cuba took the lead, 4-0. The Cuban offense struck back in the following inning, benefiting once more from the Venezuelan defense. Following two quick outs, Darian Rojas drew a walk, advanced to second base on a steal, and then reached third on Leo Sevilla's single to left field. With runners in scoring position, the first Venezuelan reliever, Yoscar Castillo, managed to strike out Yordan Manduley Jr. However, a mishandled ball by the catcher during the throw to first resulted in an error, enabling both runners to score and increasing the Cuban lead to 6-0. With his exceptional pitching, Ponce sealed the victory that has brought Cuba to the brink of securing a spot in the World Cup. This comes after their sixth-place finish in the 2017 global tournament and a absence in the last few editions in 2019, 2021, and 2023. It should be noted that the offensive opportunities for Cuba and the mistakes made by Venezuela played a crucial role in securing today's victory. Despite recording high scores against El Salvador (20-0) and Guatemala (12-0), the Cuban batters have generally struggled to make an impact, managing no more than four hits in their other matches. In today's win, they only achieved three hits, they also had four against Canada, one against Mexico, three against the Dominican Republic, and four in the initial extra-innings victory over Nicaragua. Cuba will need to improve their offensive output in order to compete against the home team and potential rival, Panama, in the upcoming semifinal round.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Néstor Cortés surrendered a season-high six runs in 4 2/3 innings on Thursday, resulting in a loss to the Angels. On Thursday, Néstor Cortés (5-10) suffered a defeat against the Angels after giving up six runs on nine hits and a walk in 4.2 innings. While Cortés managed to limit the damage to two runs through the first four innings, he struggled in the fifth. During that inning, the Angels capitalized with three hits and a walk, leading to all four baserunners scoring (two after his exit). Out of the nine hits allowed by Cortés, four, including three doubles and a home run, went for extra bases. The southpaw has been in a slump lately, conceding 24 earned runs in his last 23.1 innings pitched, resulting in an unsatisfactory 9.26 ERA. Yoán Moncada is edging closer to making a comeback. Chicago White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada (groin) is nearing a return to playing after his rehab assignment was halted, as per former manager Pedro Grifol's statement on Wednesday. The versatile third baseman, who hits from both sides of the plate, performed well by going 8-for-15 in five games with the Arizona Complex League White Sox before taking himself out of the lineup. Grifol mentioned, "We'll monitor his progress. He should be back in action soon." Moncada has been sidelined on the 60-day injured list since early April due to a left-groin strain, and the exact timing of his return to the struggling White Sox team is uncertain at this point. In 11 games this season, the 29-year-old former top prospect has a batting line of .282/.364/.410 with three doubles and a triple in 39 at-bats. Moncada is expected to resume regular playing duties at third base once he is cleared to return from the injured list. In Thursday's defeat, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. recorded two hits. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. finished Thursday's 6-4 loss to the Phillies with a 2-for-4 performance, including a walk and a strikeout. Over his last 15 games, Gurriel has gone 16-for-53 at the plate, but he has now gone five games without an extra-base hit. His performance in August has been subpar, with a .190 batting average (4-for-21). On the season, he holds a .265/.298/.410 slash line with 14 home runs, 58 RBIs, 53 runs scored, six stolen bases, 17 doubles, and one triple in 106 games. Yandy Díaz contributes to victory with a hit. In Thursday's 6-4 win against the Cardinals, Yandy Díaz batted 1-for-4 with one RBI and one run. His hit came in the first inning, and he scored shortly after on Dylan Carlson's single. Additionally, he drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning. Díaz, who is 32 years old, currently holds a .274 batting average with ten home runs, 51 RBIs, and 42 runs scored in 464 plate appearances this season. José Iglesias drives in two runs. In Thursday's 9-1 win against the Rockies, José Iglesias recorded his eleventh double of the season and drove in two runs while going 1-for-4. He also scored a run and drew a walk. Since being added to the Mets' 26-man roster on May 31, the experienced second baseman has played a crucial role in the team's improvement, boasting a .333/.377/.496 slash line with three home runs, 22 runs, 19 RBIs, and a 12.3 percent strikeout rate.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Adrián Morejón came to the Padres' rescue on Wednesday night, securing the final three outs to maintain a one-run lead in the 10th inning earning his first career save. Adrián Morejón earned a save against the Pirates on Wednesday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work. Robert Suárez has worked as the Padres' closer this season, but he was deployed in the ninth inning with the score tied Wednesday. The contest ended up going to an extra frame, and San Diego took the lead with a three-run top of the 10th. Recently acquired Tanner Scott then got the first crack at a save chance for the Padres in the bottom of the frame, but he walked three straight batters to force in a run before Morejón was called upon to clean up the mess. The southpaw's outing didn't begin well -- his first offering was a wild pitch that allowed another Pirate to cross the plate to make the score 9-8 -- but Morejón rebounded impressively, retiring the next three batters without allowing the tying run to score. As a reward, he earned his first career save in his 90th MLB appearance. Morejón has been a solid bullpen piece for the Padres this season, posting a 2.66 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 52:16 K:BB through 47.1 innings. Yordan Alvarez contributed to the Astros' 6-4 victory over the Rangers on Wednesday by hitting a solo home run and drawing two walks. Yordan Alvarez hit his 22nd home run of the season in the third inning of Wednesday's game, marking his second consecutive game with a home run. The impressive 415-foot shot to center field off José Ureña had an exit velocity of 117 mph. Additionally, he received two walks before being replaced by a defensive player. Despite his recent performance not being outstanding, with a .308 batting average (32-for-104), six home runs, and 17 RBIs in his last 30 games, the 27-year-old remains a top performer across various baseball metrics. Jorge Soler will not be playing in Thursday's game against the Brewers. The series between Atlanta and Milwaukee concludes with a day game following a night game, so Soler's absence from the lineup appears to be for maintenance purposes. In the previous game on Wednesday, he recorded a 1-for-4 performance with a walk, a run scored, and three strikeouts. Since joining Atlanta from the Giants on July 29, Soler has been the starting right fielder and leadoff hitter in the team's last seven games, where he went 4-for-24 with one double, four walks, two runs, and one RBI. Andy Pagés was on the bench on Wednesday. Andy Pagés, who had performed well in the first two games of the series by going 3-for-6 with a walk, two doubles, an RBI, and a run, was not included in the starting lineup for the final game against the Phillies. Despite this, he came off the bench as a pinch hitter and managed to get a hit in his two at-bats, striking out once. Randy Arozarena: Reaches base three times in defeat. In a loss against the Tigers on Wednesday, Randy Arozarena went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, and a run. Arozarena was the only player for the Mariners to have multiple hits in the game and scored a run on Cal Raleigh's two-run home run, which was the only scoring for Seattle. Prior to this game, Arozarena had struggled with a brief 0-for-7 slump in the previous two games, but he broke out of it with his fourth multi-hit performance in the 10 games he has played for the Mariners since being traded from the Rays. Aroldis Chapman continues to showcase his exceptional velocity, reaching a record-breaking 105.1 mph with a pitch. In Wednesday's game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres, Aroldis Chapman hit 105.1 mph with one of his pitches against batter Manny Machado, matching Chapman's own fastest MLB pitch record during the Statcast ERA. This record was initially established by Chapman in his rookie season with the Cincinnati Reds in 2010 against the Padres. On Wednesday, all six of Chapman's pitches to Machado exceeded 100 mph, with the final one clocking in at 104.7 mph, also setting a record. According to MLB researcher Sarah Langs, this pitch tied with Los Angeles Angels pitcher Ben Joyce for the quickest pitch to result in a strikeout since the pitch-tracking era began in 2008. Chapman, at 36 years old and in his 15th MLB season, shares this achievement with the 23-year-old Joyce. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was absent from the lineup in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader. For the nightcap against the Guardians, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. did not play. Arizona made changes to its outfield by including Randal Grichuk and Jake McCarthy, while Gurriel and Alek Thomas sat out for the latter part of the doubleheader. Gurriel's performance in Game 1 was below par as he went 0-for-4 in the Diamondbacks' 7-3 win. His struggles persisted as he has only recorded one hit in his last three starts since the end of his 10-game hitting streak last Saturday. Yanquiel Fernández notches his first AAA base hit. Yanquiel Fernández, the promising outfield prospect for the Colorado Rockies, achieved his first hit for Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday. The 21-year-old player batted 1-for-4 in the game, securing a single and an RBI. Despite only being his second game with the new team, Yanquiel consistently displays impressive exit velocities with his bat. His value has been on the rise in recent years within the Rockies organization, known for its abundance of outfield prospects such as Jordan Beck, Benny Montgomery, and Zac Veen. Yanquiel's improvement in plate discipline has been a key factor in his progress, complementing his powerful hitting abilities. Throughout this season, spanning Double-A and Triple-A, Yanquiel has maintained a combined batting average of .280 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs. Given his potential, it is foreseeable that he may make his debut in Colorado by 2025. Edgar Quero excelled in his recent game, going 3-for-4 with a home run with Triple-A Charlotte. Since being promoted last month, Edgar Quero has been in outstanding form, maintaining a batting line of .333/.434/.587 and hitting four home runs in 18 games. His performance in Double-A was also impressive, with a batting average of .275/.360/.463 across 72 games. While it may not be the most prudent decision for the White Sox to call him up to the majors at this stage, considering his young age of 21, he could already be the top catching choice in the organization.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Yordan Alvarez went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs in the victory against the Rangers on Tuesday. Yordan Alvarez's two-run home run in the ninth inning was crucial for the Astros' success. The home run extended the Astros' lead to 4-0, but Corey Seager's two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth interrupted Framber Valdez's no-hit attempt and narrowed the lead. This marked Alvarez's first home run since July 21 and his 21st of the season. Throughout the season, Alvarez has consistently been Houston's top performer at the plate. The 27-year-old boasts a .300/.384/.530 slash line with 21 home runs and 57 RBIs over 464 plate appearances. Recently, Alvarez has been on fire, with an OPS of .984 and a 7:7 BB:K ratio in his last 15 games. Undoubtedly, the three-time All-Star continues to be one of the premier hitters in baseball. Luis Robert steals two bases in victory. In Tuesday's victory against the Athletics, Robert went 1-for-4, recording two stolen bases and scoring a run. He reached base twice, once through a fielder's choice in the first inning and then with a base hit in the fourth inning, successfully stealing second base on both occasions. Leading the American League in steals for July, this marked the third time this season that Robert stole multiple bases in a game, bringing his total steals for the season to 17. Despite the White Sox breaking their 21-game losing streak that night, Robert has been struggling to perform consistently at the plate in the past month. Since July 6, his batting average stands at just .177, with an on-base percentage of .225 and a slugging percentage of .292, along with two home runs, eight RBIs, and seven runs scored. Following Tuesday's game, his OPS fell below .700 for the season. Throughout the year, Robert has maintained a batting line of .211/.277/.421 with 12 home runs, 26 RBIs, 28 runs scored, 17 stolen bases, and a 21:89 BB:K ratio in 249 plate appearances. Yandy Díaz returned to the starting lineup for the game against the Cardinals on Tuesday. After sustaining a left wrist contusion in Sunday's match against the Astros, Yandy Díaz was back playing first base and leading off during the series opener against the Cardinals on Tuesday. Despite going hitless in three at-bats, he managed to draw a walk, score a run, and strike out twice. Despite striking out 13 times, he has been in good form in the last 15 games, with a batting average of .305, an on-base percentage of .359, and a slugging percentage of .508. During this period, he has hit 2 home runs and driven in 7 runs. The Rockies have officially promoted outfield prospect Yanquiel Fernández to Triple-A Albuquerque. Yanquiel Fernández has been moved up to Triple-A after hitting .283/.339/.440 with 10 home runs and one stolen base in 346 plate appearances this season for Double-A Hartford. At 21 years old, he is considered one of the top prospects in the Colorado organization and is expected to thrive in the hitter-friendly environment of Coors Field soon.